Fastener for mail bags or pouches.



No. 651,256. Patented June 5-, I900. J. B. MAY.

FASTENER FOB MAIL BAGS 0R POUCHES.

1 (Application filed Mar. 26, 1900.| (No Model.)

THE NORRIS wrrzns co mom-Lmla, wnsnmsmn. 0.1.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. V

JOSEPH B. MAY, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

FASTENER FOR MAIL BAGS OR POUCHES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 651,256, dated June 5, 1900.

Application filed March 26, 1900. Serial No. 10,240. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOSEPH B. MAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lexington, in the county of Fayette and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Fastener for Mail Bags or Pouches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mail-bags, and has for its object to produce a device of this kind which can be manufactured cheaply and operated expeditiously, and it can beused for allclasses of mail-matter, thereby avoiding the necessity for bags of different constructions for difierent classes of mail-matter as usedat the present time.

Vith this object in view my invention consists in the improved constructionof a mailbag, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings,in which the same reference-numerals indicate correspond ing parts in each of the views in which they occur, Figure 1 represents my improved mailbag open. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same closed. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken through the lock when in its closed position, the same beingshown ready for closing Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken at right angles to Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and (3 are detail views of portions of the lock. Fig. 7 is a similar view of one form of lock for the same. Fig. Sis a similar view ofanother form of lock, and Fig. '9 is a transverse sectional view through Fig. 8. 7

In shipping mail-matter the bag in which first-class matter is forwarded is always more securely locked than the other class matter, as it is of more value, and greater care is taken to prevent its injury and also to prevent removal of any portion from the bagwhile in transit, except by the authorized person. YVhere a differently-constructed bag isused for this purpose fromthat which is used for the other class mail, it requires a greater-number of bags to properly transmit the mails, as the bags used for the other classes cannot be used for the first class and the bags for the first class are not so desirable for the other classes.

In my improved "mail-bag I have produced a device which can be used with equal'facility for all classes of mail-matter and which in dotted lines.

can be handled more expeditiously for firstclass matter than is possible with the bags nowin use. To accomplish this object, Iconstruct the upper portion of the bag 1 from a more flexible material, as shown at 2, which will permit of the mouth of the bag being closed or contracted, as shown at 3. The up- ,per portion of the mouthof the bag is provided with the usual gamuts or openings 4 to permit of the bag being hung upon the rack for the entrance of the mail in the usual'man ner. To facilitate the folding of the mouth of the bag and help to reinforce the same, I prefer to secure reinforcingstrips 5 upon one or both sides of the bag from the gamuts to' the top of the bag, thereby rendering that portion of the mouth more rigid than the remaining portion, thus causing the material between the strips.

Secured at one'end to one side or portion of the bag below the mouth at a suitable dis tance from the gamuts is a closing-strap 6, which is caused to encircle the mouth of the bag after it has been'collapsed or folded together within the hand and detachablysecured at its opposite end in any suitable manner. The secured end of the strap 6 fits within one end of a basepiece 7 and is secured therein by means of a staple 8, which extends through the base, through the strap, through the label-holder tab 9, and through the bottom plate 10 and firmly riveted, so as to rigidly hold all of said members together. The parts are then secured to the side of the mail-bag by means of rivets 11, which pass to fold through the tab above and below the base and, if desired, at the lower end of the tab, although I prefer to leave the tab loose for manipulation in inserting and removing the station-card holder and asa handhold to assist in closing the bag. :By locating the upper or open end ofthe label-holder sutfi ciently close to the lower edge of the base plate the holder will normally stand in the same plane with the base, and thus prevent the accidental removal of the card from the holder; but by bending the tab between'the base and the holder the holder can be thrown at such an angle to the base as will permit of the insertion or removal of the station-card. The staple '8 is located atone end of the base,

, soon as this is done any kind of a suitable lock can be passed through the projecting while the other end of the base is provided with a projection or pocket 12 and with a slightly-inclined lip or projection 13.

The free end of the strap is slotted longitudinally, as shown at 14, and is provided with a short hasp 15, the inner edge of which is extended, as shown at 16, to form a toe for entering the pocket 12 and acting as a separable hinge-lever in opening and closing the mouth of the bag. The hasp is preferably formed in the shape of an open-ended loop, through which the strap extends and within which it is adjustably secured by means of screws or rivets 17. The tip of the strap is perforated, as shown at 18, for the reception of one kind of a look, as shown at 19.

In manipulating a bag as above described the mouth is closed by folding the material back and forth in one hand and passing the strap around the same with the other. As soon as the freev end of the strap has been brought around far enough it is partially doubled back upon itself at the hasp, so as to cause the toe to project forward a suffi cient distance to enter the poeketin thebase. As soon as this is accomplished the free end of the hasp is moved forward until the loop therein will pass down over the staple. As

portion of the staple, and the bag is closed and ready for transportation. By extending theme of the hasp at an angle and causing. it to engage with the pocket of the base be- 1 low the hasp and the strap when the bag is closed the main portion of the strain upon the parts is borne by the base and meet the hasp, and the liability of the hasp being thrown off the staple is reduced to a minimum, and i a very light lock can be used for insertion through the staple to hold the hasp in position and lock-the bag. If at anytime it is desired to change the location of the hasp upon the strap to cause it to properly close the bag, it can be readily adjusted by removing the screws 17 and inserting them through other: holes in the strap after the hasp has been moved the required distance upon the strap.

The lip 13 is preferably curve-d to permit of the strap being drawn over it readily, and it is of sutficient length to prevent the material of the bag from being caught between the toe of thehasp and the strap after the toe has, been placed in the pocket and the hasp is bei ing swung over so as to cause its slotted portron to engage with the staple.

In using my improved mail-bag for the use lar portion can be inserted through the staple above the hasp and given a partial rotation, which will bring the end of the U-shaped bend or doubled portion 21 in position for being drawn through the hasp. In this positi on the straight portion of the lock lies ad jacent to the side of the staple, and any longitudinal movement of the lock will only cause its bent portion to engage with the legs of the staple without permitting of the bent portion being moved from between the legs, thereby preventing the liability of accidental disengagement of the lock from the staple. When it is desired to remove the lock, a slight lateral pressure upon the head of the same will cause the tip of the strap to be bent over suf-.

ficiently far to permit of the passage of the bent portion from between the staple, and a partial rotation of the lock will entirely disengage it from the staple, when the hasp may be thrown off the stapleand the baginstantly opened.

Another form of lock which can be usedffor other than firstclass matter consists of a latch 23, which is plvotally secured at onecnd of the base, so as to permit its hooked end being moved across the slot 1-1 in position to engage with the staple and prevent its removal. The inner edge of the latch may be flanged or bent upward, so as to increase the strength of the latch and also to afford a seat for a spring-catch 24., which is adapted to enter the slot and prevent the withdrawal'of the latch until after the catch has been raised out of the slot. The upper surface of the hasp may be provided with a suitable recess 25 adjacent to the slot for the reception of the catch when the latch has been withdrawn, and thereby prevent the accidental movement of the latch across the slot, which would prevent the passage of the staple through the slot when closing the bag. If desired, the inner wall of the recess could be made inclined, so as to engage with the catch and force it up out of the recess when the latch is forced in-. ward by suliieicnt pressure.

If it should be desired to use the bag for the transportation of first-class mail-matter, all that would be necessary would be toclose the bag in the usual manner and insert the ordinary key-lock through the staple in the usual manner. If the form of lock shown in Fig. 7 were in the end of the strap, it could be removed or permitted to remain, as desired, in position for use when the bag was to be used for the reception of other than first-class mailmatter.

As above described, it is evident that a mail-bag made in accordance with my invention-will possess all the usual requisites! for securing and transporting first--class mail.- matter and which is equally applicable for the reception and transportation of any'other class of matter, thereby rendering it very desirable in the handling of the mails. It is also evident that slight changes and alterations can be made in the construction of the same, and I reserve to myself the right to make such changes and alterations as will come within the scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination with a mail-bag, the upper end of which is formed from flexible material and provided with a base, of a strap secured to one end of the base, a hasp secured to the free end of the strap, one end of which forms a toe and is adapted to be detachably connected with the end of the base opposite to the strap and means for locking the other end of said hasp to the end of the base provided with the strap, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a mail-bag, the upper end of which is formed from flexible material and provided with a base, one end of which is provided with a staple and the other end is provided with a pocket, of a strap secured in the staple end of the base, the free end of which is slotted longitudinally and provided with a slotted hasp, one end of which is formed into a toe and adapted to be inserted in the pocket of the base and the slotted portion is adapted to pass over the staple, and means to prevent the removal of the hasp from the staple, substantially as described.

In combination with a mail-bag, the upper portion of which is formed from flexible material and provided with a base secured upon one side of the bag, one end of the base being provided with a staple and the other end being provided with a pocket and a downwardly-extending lip, of a strap secured to the staple end of the base, the free end of which is slotted longitudinally, a slotted loopshaped hasp upon the slotted portion of the strap, the toe of which is bent at an angle thereto and is adapted to enter the pocket of the base, and the slotted portion is adapted to pass over the staple and be secured thereto, substantially as described.

4:. In combination with a mail-bag, the upper portion of which is flexible and provided with a base, one end of which is provided with a staple and the other end is provided with a pocket, of a strap secured to the staple end of the base, the free end of which is slotted longitudinally, a slotted loop-shaped hasp upon the slotted portion of the strap, the inner end of which is formed into a tip for engaging with the pocket of the base, screws through the other end of the hasp for detachably connecting the hasp with the strap, and means for locking the hasp upon the staple, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a mail-bag, the upper portion of which is formed from flexible material and provided with a base, one end of which is provided with a staple and the other end is provided with a pocket, of a strap secured to the staple end of the base, the free end of which is slotted longitudinally and perforated at its tip, a slotted loop-shaped hasp on the slotted portion of the strap, the inner end of which is provided with an inwardlyinclined toe, in position to enter the pocket of the base and the slotted portion is adapted to fit over the staple, a longitudinally-movable rotatable lock through the perforation in the tip of the strap in position to engage with the staple and hold the hasp in its closed position, substantially as described.

6. In combination with a mail-bag, the upper end of which is formed from flexible material and provided with a base, one end, of which is provided with a staple and the other end with a pocket, of a strap secured to the staple, the outer end of which is slotted longitudinally and provided with a perforation in its tip, a slotted hasp upon the slotted portion of the strap, the inner end of which is formed into a toe for entering the pocket of the base, and a look through the perforation at the tip of the strap, the outer end of which is formed into a head and the inner end is doubled upon itself and has its end bent at an angle thereto and formed into the segment of a circle in position for passing through the staple and locking the hasp against removal, substantially as described.

7. In combination with a mail-bag, the upper portion of which is provided with a base and a label-holder tab, of a plate below the tab, a strap within the base, a staple through the base, through the strap, through the tab, through the plate and riveted upon the under side thereof, means upon the free end of the strap for securing it to the base, and a labelholder upon the tab in position to have its mouth normally closed by the base, substantially as described.

JOSEPH B. MAY.

Witnesses:

CLARENCE SHAW,

GEo. E. TERRY. 

